Zim loses US$2bn yearly to corruption
NALEDI DUBE/ MOREBLESSING MARANGE
Zimbabwe is losing close to US$2bn each year to corruption that has been touted as “enemy number one” with authorities saying there is need to curb graft that is affecting the government’s developmental projects.
The country has scored badly in the global corruption index and is depicted as one of the most corrupt countries globally despite calls by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for “zero tolerance” on graft.
According to the Auditor General’s reports, corruption in Zimbabwe is manifesting itself in local authorities, government institutions, ministries and parastatals.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) deputy chairperson Kuziwa Murapa said corruption was a hindrance to development in the country.
“Zimbabwe is estimated by the RBZ, our own RBZ, that we are losing US$1.8bn each year due to corruption. If that money was there, we could have finished the Harare-Masvingo road a long time ago but we do not have that money,” Murapa said while speaking during the International Anti-Corruption Day commemorations held in Masvingo province.
He said ZACC was trying to bring in the whistleblower and witness protection framework that has a negative effect of retarding potential whistleblowers due to the fear of victimisation.
Cabinet has approved the principles of the whistle blower framework and what remains is the process of stakeholders in the law making value chain to complete the drafting of the piece of legislation.
Minister of State for Masvingo province Ezra Chadzamira said fighting corruption should be a collective responsibility.
“Corruption has a negative impact on every aspect of society, causing conflict and instability. Corruption is also jeopardising social and economic development,” Chadzamira said.
Meanwhile, ZACC spokesperson Thandiwe Mlobane said the anti-corruption group does not dabble in political fights and their investigations do not act to settle political scores among politicians as claimed by critics.
“I want to say categorically that when we complete a docket, you have to put in the evidence so there is no way you can play politics in the docket,” she told Business Times recently.
She said the commission has scored positives since inception while calling upon the National Prosecuting Authority and other players to up their game.
On accusations that they only arrest to release in what critics have termed “catch and release” of mainly political bigwigs and the connected elite, she said: “People are saying we are not seeing many corrupt people sent to jail. Unlike murder, corruption cases are different they require more evidence and we might not be luck in terms of witnesses. Witnesses may not be forthcoming.”
Several bigwigs and politically connected people have been arrested but released after their cases failed to convince the courts of any criminal element, a development that has exposed poor investigation on the part of authorities.
Recently, lawyer representing Gokwe-Nembudziya Member of Parliament Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Oliver Marwa accused ZACC of playing factional politics in the case the Zanu PF lawmaker who is facing fraud charges jointly with the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe bosses.
